Students chance to discuss business ideas

Students from Western Heights High School won the regional competition for the Young Enterprise Awards last year. Photo/File

A new intake of students is about to turn business ideas into reality through the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) with the first event of the year for teams from Rotorua, Taupo and Tokoroa being held on Thursday.

The E-Day is a chance for the newly formed teams to discuss ideas with business mentors who brainstorm with them in a speed coaching format.

The mentors share their skills and knowledge in various aspects of business, such as financials, marketing and sales, and will spend a few minutes with each team, sharing their experience and discussing the teams' ideas.

This will help the teams to further develop their business plans.

Our local YES region takes in Rotorua, Taupo and Tokoroa with Rotorua Lakes Council taking on the organisational role and student teams from John Paul College, Western Heights High School, Taupo-nui-a-Tia College and Tokoroa High School are taking part this year.

Last year about 100 students took part and this year there will be more. Interest in YES has been growing over the past couple of years.

This year's E-Day will be held at Waiariki Institute of Technology which has come on board to support YES.

The scheme uses teachers and members of the business community to provide an authentic, real life business experience for the students who form companies and launch and sell products, learning how to adapt and collaborate and learning a wide range of skills from finances to marketing.

Late last year three national YES awards came to the local region.

Rotorua/Taupo regional champions, Learnguage from Western Heights High School, came second overall while John Paul College team Body Soak Limited took the Start Up Company of the Year title and John Paul College teacher Minka Webb took the Sir James Fletcher Award for Outstanding Contribution.

YES has provided the foundations for successful business careers for many past participants. It has also proven very rewarding experience for the mentors who come on board and there is always a need for more mentors to work alongside the young business teams.

Anyone interested in mentoring or keen to find out more about it can contact YES local coordinator Brigitte Nelson, phone 021-02421142 or email Brigitte.nelson@rotorualc.nz